Nigerian govt fines British Tobacco $110 million

Nigeria’s consumer and anti-competition protection watchdog has imposed a $110 million fine on the British American Tobacco (BAT) for violation of health regulations.

The Federal Competition & Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) said its investigations found the cigarette maker and its affiliate marketing and holding companies had violated federal tobacco control laws.

The commission said it found evidence of a “pattern of undermining, and circumventing national tobacco control policies and regulations.”

The probe started in August 2020 and included searches and seizures at multiple BAT’s locations in Nigeria, the regulator said in a statement Wednesday.

BAT did not respond immediately to an emailed request for comment.

The company has faced troubles with Nigerian policymakers in the past. In 2017, it was investigated by the House of Representatives for allegedly benefitting from illegal tax waivers.

Advocacy to mitigate behaviour

The consumer agency said the tobacco company will make a written undertaking and conduct advocacy to mitigate its behaviour, it said in a statement on X, formerly Twitter, Wednesday.

The agency said BAT will be subject to a compliance and monitoring for 24 months to “ensure appropriate behavioural and business practices modification to be more consistent with compliance with prevailing competition laws/regulations; and tobacco control efforts.”

The regulator will then withdraw pending charges against the company and at least one of its employees.